A cold front is moving east out of central Minnesota this afternoon and is expected to exit the Northland by late tonight. Ahead of the front, scattered showers and a few thunderstorms have formed in a narrow north-south band across north-central Minnesota. Partial clearing in this area following this morning’s rain allowed enough instability to develop this afternoon. However, lapse rates and wind shear are limited, and instability decreases quickly farther east, so it remains uncertain how far these showers will progress before weakening by mid to late evening.
Following tonight’s front, winds are expected to shift northwest, with gusts of 15–30 mph likely overnight into Sunday morning.
Goes-19 visible satellite loop ending 5:31 PM CT Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Late this afternoon, a narrow line of showers and embedded thunderstorms stretches from near International Falls to Brainerd, moving eastward. Some storms this evening may bring brief heavy rain and gusty winds up to 35 mph.
If this line of showers holds together, it may reach the Duluth area between 8 and 10 PM, give or take an hour.
Radar loop ends 5:47 PM Saturday, August 15, 2026.
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MRMS radar rainfall estimates for August 15, 2026.
A relatively narrow corridor in northern Minnesota experienced heavy downpours this morning, resulting in impressive rainfall totals of an inch or more, with Bigfork receiving the highest at 1.40 inches. Rainfall decreased significantly farther south, with Hibbing recording nearly 0.4 inches, Grand Rapids about 0.2 inches, and Duluth seeing only trace amounts.
Rainfall Reports for August 15, 2026, as of 4 PM
- Bigfork, MN: 1.40″
- Orr, MN: 1.28″
- Cass Lake, MN: 1.20″
- Buyck, MN: 1.13″
- Cook, MN: 1.07″
- Northome, MN: 1.03″
- Side Lake, MN: 0.97″
- Meander, MN: 0.96″
- Babbitt, MN: 0.78″
- Winton, MN: 0.77″
- Littlefork, MN: 0.73″
- Nashwauk, MN: 0.64″
- Walker, MN: 0.56″
- Ely, MN: 0.56″
- International Falls, MN: 0.47″
- Hibbing, MN: 0.38″
- Aurora, MN: 0.38″
- Eveleth, MN: 0.36″
- Seagull Lake, MN: 0.35″
- Hog Creek, MN: 0.32″
- Hill City, MN: 0.24″
- Grand Rapids, MN: 0.20″
- Isabella, MN: 0.09″
- Hinckley, MN: 0.05″
- Pine River, MN: 0.04″
- Meadowlands, MN: 0.04″
- Floodwood, MN: 0.04″
- Grand Marais, MN: 0.04″
- Siren, WI: 0.03″
- Grantsburg, WI: 0.02″
- Saginaw, MN: 0.01″
- Duluth Airport: 0.01″
- Hermantown, MN: 0.01″
- Poplar, WI: 0.01″
- Ashland, WI: 0.01″
- Clam Lake, WI: 0.01″
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